Mullova Bach

Although Viktoria Mullova released a recording of Bach's three partitas for solo violin for Philips in 1994, she never had the opportunity with Philips to record their companion pieces, the three sonatas for solo violin, so this 2009 Onyx recording is Mullova's first complete recording of all six of these milestone works. In the intervening years, the Russian virtuoso has grown as a technician and as an interpreter. Mullova's tone is still large, but she has developed deeper subtlety.

Viktoria Mullova and Ottavio Dantone turn in smashing performances of Bach's six sonatas for violin and harpsichord, plus two additional items: a transcription of Trio Sonata No. 5 (for organ/clavichord) and the Sonata in G for Violin and Continuo BWV 1021. Bach's violin sonatas use the "church sonata" form; that is, they usually have opening slow movements and no quick movements modeled on dance forms. They are also unique in that they are in fact true duets between the right hand of the keyboard player and the violin, rather than solo works in which the violin sings while the harpsichord accompanies with the continuo part.

Viktoria Mullova renews her partnership with long-term collaborator Ottavio Dantone in a programme of concertos for violin, offering not only the two famous concertos, but two concertos arranged for violin from the 2nd harpsichord concerto, and a concerto for violin and harpsichord which listeners may recognise from its violin and oboe guise – even this was arranged by Bach himself from the original for two harpsichords. Bach himself was a great re-user of material, and many concerto movements (including some from lost concertos) appeared in his cantatas. Mullova and Dantone have worked together for many years, both recording and in concert.

Violinist Viktoria Mullova made two great decisions before she made this record. First, she decided to record not only Bach's canonical six sonatas for violin and harpsichord, but also his Sonata in G major for violin and continuo and his Trio Sonata in C major for violin and continuo…

The pellucid simplicity of Bruno Canino's pianoplaying is the perfect partner for the fine silver of Viktoria Mullova's violin playing. Here it is at its most refined, even its most austere. The Adagio of the B minor Sonata contains absolutely nothing extraneous to a perception of the melody's own contours: no gloss of dynamic or movement, just a sense of totally secure accomplishment, sophisticated timbre and phrasing.

I found Viktoria Mullova's performance of the Bach B minor Partita quite enthralling throughout. Without ever minimizing the resources of the 'modern' violin (and hers sounds like a very fine instrument indeed) she seems to have taken intelligent cognizance of what 'authentic' players have been learning: there is a lot of one-bow-to-a-note playing, for instance. Moreover, she will have nothing of the modern tendency to even out an instrument's tone.

Antonio Vivaldi - Viktoria Mullova & Giuliano Carmignola - Double Concertos
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 313 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Archiv Produktion # 477 7466 | Country/Year: Europe 2008
Genre: Classical | Style: Baroque

…Mullova and Carmignola provide one of the most consummate displays of period instrument playing that I have heard. True masters of their instruments.

Viele der bekanntesten Melodien von Johann Sebastian Bach stammen aus den ausdruckstarken langsamen Sätzen seiner Konzerte, Suiten und Sonaten. Aus Anlass von "330 Jahre Bach" erscheint nun die Doppel-CD Bach Adagio. Sie lädt dazu ein, Ruhezonen im Alltag zu entdecken und sie zur Entschleunigung zu nutzen. Die reichen Klangwelten, die der Barock-Meister erschuf, animieren zum Träumen und Entspannen. Mit den renommierten Bach-Interpreten wie John Eliot Gardiner, András Schiff, Friedrich Gulda, Albrecht Mayer, Janine Jansen, Riccardo Chailly, Christopher Hogwood und vielen mehr.